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Movie Info

Barbra Trent's Oscar-winning documentary takes a harsh look at a black period in 20th-century democracy, the late '80s and early '90s when during "Operation Just Cause," the U.S. invaded Panama, ostensibly to oust dictator and known arms and drug kingpin General Manuel Noriega, whom the U.S. aided for over a decade. Basing her information on eyewitness accounts, Trent alleges that U.S. troops killed up to 4,000 Panamanian men between the ages of 15 and 55, buried them secretly in mass graves, and then reported back home that only 250 civilians died. She also alleges that the troops destroyed untold amounts of buildings. Shocking photographs back up her stunning allegations. Trent spares neither the U.S. government nor the media -- that blindly accepted and reported anything released by the White House -- from blame in keeping the horror a secret. The film begins with a history of the U.S. relations with Panama, beginning with Panama's fight for independence from Colombia -- something the U.S. backed so it could build the Panama Canal -- to President Carter's 1977 treaty that would give control over the vital shipping lane back to Panama in the year 2000. One of the most shocking aspects of the story is that according to Trent, "Operation Justice" was really launched so that the U.S. could renege on the treaty and retain control. She also suggests the U.S. military used the invasion to test out sophisticated new weapons in preparation for the Gulf War. The photos and violence depicted are not for the squeamish. Elizabeth Montgomery narrated the events.

Critic Reviews for The Panama Deception

Forceful condemnation of the Reagan-Bush policy in Panama, especially after the 1989 invasion. Relavent message--a total dismissal of the officual story--and timeley release in election year increased the visibility of docu, which won the Oscar Award.

Audience Reviews for The Panama Deception

The most uplifting scenes in this story of mass murder are those of the loving care Panamanians gave to reburying their loved ones in proper caskets after discovering fifteen civilian mass graves created by US military bulldozers.

G Richard Barton

Marvellous documentary about the Panama invasion by the United States and the role that the U.S. had in propping up Noriega beforehand. Unfortunately, it relevant only to the historians now.

John Ballantine

Super Reviewer

This documentary explores the hidden agendas behind the U.S. invasion of Panama.
Watching this documentary now, I couldn't help but draw one-to-one parallels between its subject and the wars in Iraq. All three wars were surrounded in lies and presented to the American public devoid of context and history. And this documentary meticulously picks apart those lies, giving us a history of a region we rarely think seriously about. The parallels I draw between then and now are probably inappropriate and simplistic, but my gut reaction can't be too far off. And when the narrator states that Panama was the training ground for the first Iraq War, I couldn't help but think, "In more ways than you could ever know." I vaguely remember the invasion of Panama; it was when I was still young, believing that we were always the good guys. And even now, in the age of Obama, who at one time convinced us to be optimistic and proud again, I watch this documentary hoping that things have changed, that the public relations branch that presents victims of our attacks as grateful has been dissolved, but then I wake up.
Overall, I think this is an astounding film, one that is required watching for all people who think about voting with the seriousness that it deserves.

Jim Hunter

Super Reviewer

Absolultely fascinating doc from 92 on the whole Noriega event and America's long history with Panama. A must see! On a side note it's not covered in the doc but it is odd how Noriega, Saddam and Bin Laden all have GHW Bush in common. Bush (CIA- Presidency) worked and supported Noriega (mini-narco dictator) in Latin America fighting "commies." Bush ( CIA -Presidency) worked and supported with money, technology and weapons- Saddam (Fascist) fighting against one time ally Iran. And the Bush Family has a long history of doing business with the Bin Ladens and supported Osama fighting the Russians in Afghanistan in the 1980s.